Not Enough Time In the World

There is much going on. But most of it is in my own head, so I'll just do the best I can here.

Let's go!

First. Shirley Temple (Black) died. She of the movies, and she of the Shirley Temple cocktail, of which I was an imbiber, sitting next to my Dad on a few bar stools in my youth. He rarely was in a bar, so it was an extra special treat.

I'm glad to be old enough to have been around when she was beautifully young and singing and making girls wish we all had curly hair - ok, I wasn't around when she actually was filming her movies, I'm old but not that old! but it was still a time when watching her was a sweet pleasure  and still before we girls got to the age of hippie hipness, wishing we all had long straight hair. Here's to Shirley Temple...for bringing us smiles and later in life, working to bring us hope; not a bad legacy for one life.

Another little girl brought me a lot of smiles and laughter yesterday. Her two favorite friends, Lucy and Fluffy, helped too. Lucy, who doesn't like much of anything, including 'bonatoes', bananas ("I don't like bananas either!") or getting out much. Au contraire, says Fluffy. Fluffy isn't afraid of anything, anytime, anywhere. The stars came out and we finally got them both put to bed, Fluffy going to sleep immediately while rascally Lucy kept awake as long as possible. If there is a good angel on one shoulder and a naughty one on the other, their names are Lucy and Fluffy. Thanks, little one, for the introductions. 

While I happen to love this photo, Lucy did not. She wanted a full on shot, perhaps not liking her profile. That wouldn't surprise me, Lucy doesn't like much of anything. I didn't dare ask if she liked me.

She was much happier with this one. Lucy doesn't know much about photography, she only knows about Lucy. 

If you are looking for something special for your Valentine, or if you want to give yourself something special and beautiful, Diane has some stunning orchids in town.

Early yesterday morning a friend on a run stopped long enough for a chat. One half of an awesome couple still pretty madly in love even as their youngest is getting ready to head off to college, I asked what they were doing for Valentine's Day. He told me his mother had pretty much wrecked all the Hallmark holidays when he was young and asked her what she wanted for Mother's Day. She told him, treat me badly today and be wonderful to me the other 364 days of the year. There is a lot of sanity in that sentiment with only a few seconds' thought. Then I read a wonderful story from the blog Simply Living with another take on Valentine's Day. Together, wrapped with a bow, I got my Valentine present early. 

Kicking out the cynical, commercial side of holidays like this one, one that has so much potential for roiled emotions concerning its theme of love, isn't a bad thing. Love is good, the more it is celebrated the better. But as a wise Mom said, it's not just for a day. Share the love. Every day.

Those that don't got it, can't show it. Those that got it, can't hide it.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/z/zora_neale_hurston.html#yExkbmfp8XEBe3wW.

 Those that don't got it can't show it.

Those that got it can't hide it. 

 ~ Zora Neale Hurston

Another thing not to forget is to look up tomorrow night. It is a full moon night, commonly called the Snow Moon, but also called the Hunger Moon, the Opening Buds Moon, the Storm Moon, the Trapper’s Moon, and the Snow Blinding Moon. Lakota Sioux called it the Moon of the Dark Red Calves. For the Cheyenne it is the  Big hoop and Stick Game Moon, and for the Tewa it was the "Moon When the Coyotes are Frightened". sourced here

Last year's February full moon ~ by any other name, it is.

And since I'm mish mashing today, I'll throw this in. Because if you read this blog much, you know I'm a big believer in the Power of One. I wonder often if people have any idea how powerful they are as individuals. And as individuals united...wow.

This is a long read and I don't know who wrote it, it came in my email and it rings true to me. You will either read it and act on it, or you won't. But knowledge is power and power is powerful. Ayup.

Good reasons to avoid products "made in china"!

TILAPIA .... 



More interesting info on the garbage we buy that comes from China. 

Buyer beware!

After reading it, I remembered that I purchased Tilapia from Walmart (ed. note - first mistake, shopping at Walmart for anything, let alone food) last week. I read the label and it was just as the article stated "packaged in Jacksonville, FL but processed in China". After reading it, I threw it in the garbage.

At my sister-in-law's suggestion, I took out of the garbage and took it back to Walmart . It had started to thaw before taking it back and inside the sealed (unopened) wrapper, there were little black particles that appeared to be feces.

I took this e-mail with me and the customer service lady told 
me that she was familiar with it and as much as her kids liked Talapia, they don't eat it anymore. I left the entire e-mail wit her because it doesn't just address Talapia.



DO NOT EAT TILAPIA:

I read several articles on Google about this, and even one that was defending the eating of tilapia said to avoid the fish that came from China.

Also, I had just returned home from buying Publix & Albertson's 4-day special of 4 bags of frozen tilapia for the price of one. Sure enough, on the top of the bags, it read "farm raised", and on the bottom in small print it said, "China".

I recently saw a Food inspector on TV... He said he had lived overseas and he had seen the filthy conditions their foods are raised and processed in. It is enough to make you throw up. Some foreign workers have to wear masks as they work in these places; because the food is so rotten and filthy, it makes them want to throw up.

 Many of their Fish on Fish Farms are fed raw sewage daily. He said he has seen so much filth throughout their food growing and processing that he would "never" eat any of it. They raise this filth, put some food coloring and some flavorings on it, and then they ship it to the USA for YOU to consume and feed to YOUR families.

They have no Food & Safety Inspectors. They ship it to you to buy and poison your families and friends.

Imported food we eat and the junk we buy:

Green Giant frozen vegetables are from China, and so are most of Europe's Best.

Arctic Gardens are Okay. So is Birdseye.



Never buy the grocery store garlic unless it is clearly marked from U.S.A. or Canada, the other stuff is grown in people poop (even worse than chicken poop).

China is the largest producer of garlic in the world.  U.S. is next.

Buy only local honey, much honey is shipped in huge containers from China and re-packed here.

Watch out for packages which state "prepared for", "packed by" or "imported by". I don't understand the lack of mandatory labeling, especially the produce. The country of origin should be clearly shown on the item in the store.

Go to the local farmers' markets in season and keep a wary eye open the rest of the year.

Please read this very carefully, and read to the very bottom. It's important for all of us.

How is it possible to ship food from China cheaper than having it produced in the U.S. or Canada?

 

FOR EXAMPLE THE "OUR FAMILY" BRAND OF MANDARIN ORANGES SAYS RIGHT ON THE CAN 'FROM CHINA'. SO, FOR A FEW MORE CENTS, BUY THE "LIBERTY" BRAND. "GOLD" BRAND OR THE "DOLE" IS FROM CALIFORNIA.
Beware: COSTCO sells canned peaches and pears in a plastic jar that come from China.

ALL "HIGH LINER" AND MOST OTHER FROZEN FISH PRODUCTS COME FROM CHINA OR INDONESIA.

THE PACKAGE MAY SAY "PACIFIC SALMON" ON THE FRONT, BUT LOOK FOR THE SMALL PRINT. MOST OF THESE PRODUCTS COME FROM FISH FARMS IN THE ORIENT WHERE THERE ARE NO REGULATIONS ON WHAT IS FED TO THESE FISH.

Recently 'The Montreal Gazette' had an article by the Canadian Government on how Chinese feed the fish: They suspend chicken wire crates over the fish ponds, and the fish feed on chicken s--t.



If you search the Internet about what the Chinese feed their fish, you'll be alarmed; e.g., growth hormones, expired anti-biotics from humans.

Never buy any type of fish or shellfish that comes from these countries:

Vietnam, China, Philippines.

Check this out. I did.

'Steinfeld's Pickles' are made in India - just as bad!

Another example is in canned mushrooms.

'No-Name' brand came from Indonesia.

Also check those little fruit cups. They used to be made in Canada in the Niagara region until about 2 years ago. They are now packaged in China!



While the Chinese export inferior and even toxic products, dangerous toys, and goods to be sold in North American markets, the media wrings its hands!  Yet, 70% of North Americans believe that the trading privileges afforded to the Chinese should be suspended!

Well, duh!  Why do you need the government to suspend trading privileges?

SIMPLY DO IT YOURSELF, CANADA AND THE U.S.A.



Simply look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says 'Made in China' or 'PRC' (and that now includes Hong Kong), simply choose another product, or none at all.

You will be amazed at how dependent you are on Chinese products, and you will be equally amazed at what you can do without.



THINK ABOUT THIS 

If 200 million North Americans refuse to buy just $20 each of Chinese goods, that's a billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in our favor... fast!

 The downside?

 Some Canadian/American businesses will feel a temporary pinch from having foreign stockpiles of inventory.

Just one month of trading losses will hit the Chinese for 8% of their North American exports.  Then they will at least have to ask themselves if the benefits of their arrogance and lawlessness are worth it.

START NOW and don't stop.

Send this to everybody you know.  Let's show them that we are intelligent, and NOBODY can take us for granted.

YES! YES! WE HAVE POWER, ONE PERSON AT A TIME ....LETS SEND A MESSAGE....
 
Have a true to you Thursday. Do something (non)theoretical.

Those that don't got it, can't show it. Those that got it, can't hide it.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/z/zoranealeh384229.html#kMQOxhLVkKLJw7wj.99

Going to the big island

I don't go shopping on the big island very often (I mean, c'mon, look at this place, why would I want to leave?), so when I do, it's always an adventure of one sort or another. That adventure is hugely defined by who you go with, according to one custom of taking the ferry over, renting a car or taking a car on the cargo ferry, with one or two or three friends - depending on the vehicle and what purchases are hopefully coming back over.

~~A side note here. I read in the paper on Sunday that the consideration of a bridge between Vieques and the mainland was put before some board with the attendees from Vieques voting all-but-one unamimously not to have such a bridge. One man in charge of something or other said he was surprised, that he thought the people of Vieques and Culebra would WANT a bridge. NO ONE WANTS A BRIDGE except those whose pockets might get lined by the funding. Plus, it would never get finished...but all of those points aside, we really don't want a bridge. And maybe someone not from an island wouldn't understand why we wouldn't like the ease of transporting ourselves and our goods more simply back and forth. Well, here's why. We live on islands for a reason. Young, old, inbetween. We like it this way, no matter how we grumble, we'd not change it. Period.~~

So. I was going over with Kim & Carlos and somehow Kevin, who was heading on a mini getaway mid-big-island ended up coming along instead of getting publicos to San Juan. Or maybe it started when I came over my hill at 5:30 a.m. and there was Pan in his van, with Kevin along, heading for the ferry just in time to give me a ride too. Perfect!!

Usually I take the three o'clock ferry back. This time we were going to take the 7 o'clock so it would be a very full day of shopping. Along with the excellent surprise of Carlos' choice for lunch, Il Nonno's in Isla Verde. Shrimp and sauces and tilapia oh my! Because Kim and I were a little wide-eyed at the prices - which are the same, lunch or dinner, good for dinner, high for lunch - we justified the well -worth-it splurge by calling it Dinner in the Daylight. Which of course called for wine, in this case a malbec we all really liked.

Kim and I split the shrimp in champagne sauce with spinach appetizer. Carlos got one for himself and Kevin had the prosciutto wrapped around arugula with honey and....and...goat cheese? Sound weird? Try it...then after wishing you could have a dinner plate more, tell me how weird it is! I forgot to take pics of the apps and that's too bad..but I did get photos of the entrees. Somehow the wine (and they have a great wine deal - up until 5 p.m. all bottles of wine are half price). So it ends up, if you don't buy a crazy expensive wine, to cost less than by the glass.

I ordered the tilapia in gorgonzola sauce and it ranks right up there with one of the best fish meals I've ever eaten. There was a choice of pasta or mashed potatoes as a side (a very blanco meal) and I got the pasta, which I didn't need but somehow managed to finish off. Along with bread for the sauces. And some more wine.


There was lobster ravioli and shrimp for Kim and gnocchi for Kevin, while Carlos had also ordered the tilapia. It would be fair to say only the remnants of our civilization that we carry with us kept us from licking clean the plates. It was a total splurge with complete sated (do these people look sated? yes they do) satisfaction. We'll give Carlos 25 points for the choice, on a scale of 20. Well done!



And then on to more shopping (way more shopping - we had to get help to get all the stuff on the ferry...yikes! and thanks, Lorraine! and whoever you were, 3 guys in Fajardo!), even though I think what we all wanted to do was curl up someplace and take a nap. But no, Home Depot and Super Wal-Mart awaited our ca-ching. How is it that Carlos asked "Does anyone want anything from Home Depot?" thinking no one would answer and I walked out with an electric chainsaw? But I'd rather go into a hardware store (if I can't go into one with wooden floors and bins of nails and seeds, Home Depot will have to do) any day than a mall, so it wasn't really that surprising. The weed trees in my yard are in serious trouble! I've always wanted my own chain saw and now I have one. Life is good. The CWIM thinks the box makes a good rainy day playhouse.




Coming home in the dark I forgot I'd left my mop hanging from the line (that runs the length of the porch) to dry. Arms full, the CWIM doing the where the hell were you I'm hungry dance, I hit the mop handle with the chain saw box and almost lost my head. First chain saw accident and it wasn't even turned on! But I'm ready to read the book and be the careful person I always am with new tools (yeah sure, I can't wait to plug that sucker in and go crazy with it).

It's a toss up which I'm happier about...the chain saw or the sea mossy green sheets. Nah, not really, the chainsaw, hands down But the sheets, which I'd forgotten all about, are really nice. Not that the ones I can get here made out of something like those paper towels that are cloth and paper aren't really pretty...but crackling during sleep time just isn't any more right than no sheets at all.

This morning dawned with misty rain. I opened the cart, got rained on twice, closed the cart, the sun came out. Feeling bad for the tourists, I kept the cart closed and came home. It shouldn't rain the rest of the day. No no, don't thank me...just buy me a drink next time you see me at Dinghy Dock.